At the Marina Bay Golf Course, families reveled in the joy of the game. Players of all skills and backgrounds gathered, each dressed in their own gear, eager to win. The thrill of fresh air and sunshine was as vital as sinking a putt.
Opened in 2006 and designed by South African architect Phil Jacobs, this 18-hole public course overlooks Singapore’s skyline. Spanning 6,493 meters with a par of 72, it features 83 pot bunkers and Singapore's only Par 6 hole, stretching 651 meters.
For nearly 18 years, Marina Bay Golf Course has hosted countless competitions and earned numerous awards, including Best Public Golf Course in Asia Pacific. Operated by NCI Golf Private Limited, it has been a favorite for all ages and skill levels.
Yet, like all good things, its time must come to an end.
Singapore's Last 18-Hole Golf Course Shutters For New Horizons
Earlier this year, the Marina Bay Golf Course shared on its website that it would close for good on Jun 29, citing “imminent land lease expiry” as a reason so and joining many other golf and country clubs that have bit the dust.
In Singapore, there have been three public golf courses; of which two—Marina Bay Golf Course and Champions Public Golf Course, which operated its last day on Dec 26, 2023 —have shuttered its doors while tenancy for the last public golf course, Mandai Executive Golf Course, is set to end on Dec 30. These closures signify the country’s major push for land redevelopment to cater for housing shortages and more.
The government typically leases land for golf clubs to cater to the sports’ demand. In the land-scarce financial hub, the government considers all options before deciding on prospective project closures.
Earlier in May, Member of Parliament for Mountbatten SMC Mr Lim Biow Chuan had asked the Minister of Law K. Shanmugam if SLA could consider granting an extension of its lease until development plans have been finalised.
“The land at the Marina Bay Golf Course site is required for various uses, including the development of the expanded Bay East Garden and Founders’ Memorial. Construction at the site is expected to commence shortly after the site is returned to the State,” the Minister said in a written reply.
The Workers Bid Goodbye
While golfers will undoubtedly miss the space, the workers who have tirelessly toiled behind the scenes will feel the loss just as deeply too.
“Even though we know it, the news still felt sudden,” said one of the club’ golf stewards Mr Tan Kim Kai, 35. Having been with NCI Golf since 8 years ago, he fondly remembers the time spent on the greens supporting golfers and interacting with his peers. “No one game is the same.”
Most notably, he remembers empowering his fellow workers as a NCI Golf Union branch official for the Attractions, Resorts, & Entertainment Union (AREU). “When AREU heard the news, the team was swift to lend a hand,” he added. “AREU worked closely with the management to cushion the impact by offering jobs and even upskilling my peers to transition to the next phase of their lives.”
“For now, I am taking a break before trying something new,” Mr Tan said.
In 2021, the Singapore Golf Association (SGA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NTUC Club to golf by making the sport more affordable to the community. Drawing on the technical expertise of the SGA and the facilities of NTUC Club, the U Golf Academy was established at Orchid Country Club. Here, the public could partake in beginner training sessions aligned with SGA's meticulously developed curriculum.
Some familiar faces from Marina Bay Golf Course may be there too. One of whom is Ms Alicia Ng, 35.
“I am excited to start my role as an event coordinator at Orchid Country Club,” said Ms. Ng, who previously served as a guest relations officer at the NCI Golf for the past six years. With the company’s and union’s support, Ms. Ng, also an AREU member, swiftly found her new role. “During my time at the golf club, I have honed my skills in event management.”
“I will miss the regulars. When they heard of the news, I remember them asking us our future plans. It was nice knowing that they cared too,” she said.
NCI Golf’s Human Resources Manager Ms Linda Hu, 50, is thankful for the support rendered by the union in the past years. “In the lead up before the closure, (NCI Golf) worked very closely with AREU to hash out possible implications,” she said.
Linda, who had been with the team for the past 17 years, shared that there are 41 staff working together at NCI Golf. The average tenure of each staff member is nine years — “an impressive feat”, in her own words.
When news of the golf closure surfaced, Linda remembered reaching out to all 41 staff members individually to help them find their footing. Some employees shared that they want to take a break, while others took up courses to reskill. Like Linda, many of the employees have found jobs in similar roles at different clubs through the union.
Beside offering career opportunities, AREU also negotiated enhanced support packages for the retrenched employees, said Linda. “Among the retrenchment benefits, there was also a final bonus.”
In his closing address, AREU President Brother Azman Bin Osman recalls how NCI Golf came to be one of the “pioneer branches” to have come under the union’s care. “Over the years, we have built a close partnership with the management, working together to improve the wages, work prospects and welfare for the workers,” said Brother Azman. “This strong relationship allowed us to work closely to take care of the workers' interests when the course’s closure was announced.”
Brother Azman added: “I thank the NCI Golf Board and Management partners for always having the workers interests at heart and I am sure the workers too felt it as they were well taken care of in their time in the company.”
Linda concludes: “You will still get to see us in different places, so maybe this is not goodbye after all.”
By Sng Ler Jun
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